This old Florida bridge is being sunk in the ocean. Here's why

After serving traffic for 63 years before being replaced by the new E.C. Summerlin Family Bridge in May, the old North Causeway Bridge will serve a new purpose for decades to come: an artificial reef.

The new North Causeway Bridge officially opened May 15, and the old drawbridge is being demolished in a move that will bring 15,000 tons of materials to an existing reef site off Fort Pierce.

The Army Corps of Engineers is allowing the Florida Department of Transportation to deploy the remains of the old D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, built in 1963, on three, 60-acre sites in the Atlantic Ocean.

Here's what we know about artificial reefs and the efforts to repurpose the old bridge.

What is an artificial reef and why are they important?

An artificial reef is a human-made structure placed underwater to create a habitat for fish and other marine life, similar to a natural reef. These structures can be made from sunken ships, concrete and other materials.

Artificial reefs provide shelter and food sources for various marine life. The bolstered marine ecosystem then helps the fishing industry. Reefs also encourage diving, which bolsters tourism.

"Artificial reefs have traditionally been made to benefit mankind by increasing harvest from the oceans," said Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County coastal resources director.

Where will the remains of the bridge be deployed? What is the timeline?

The Army Corps of Engineers is allowing the Florida Department of Transportation to deploy of the remains of the old drawbridge on three, 60-acre sites in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 6 miles northeast of the Fort Pierce Inlet, Oppenborn said.

The project will bring 15,000 tons of materials to an existing reef site off Fort Pierce. St. Lucie County also has roughly 3,000 tons of concrete that it will try to get placed at the same time by the FDOT's contractor, Oppenborn said.

FDOT has yet to announced when the rubble will be taken by barge to the artificial reef site.

What we know about the Lee E. Harris reef?

The three 60-foot deep reef locations are in the Lee E. Harris artificial reef site, named after a coastal and civil engineering professor at the Florida Institute of Technology who was an artificial-reef supporter. The county has deployed construction debris from old bridges and other roadways there for 17 years.

The Harris reef provides juvenile fish habitat and attracts loggerhead sea turtles, goliath grouper, amberjack, snook and various snappers and groupers, according to Oppenborn. The reef supports massive schools of goggle eyes, blue runners and cigar minnows and other baitfish, which attract larger predatory gamefish.

The site, between the Fort Pierce and St. Lucie inlets, is accessible to both anglers and scuba divers. It's near other deployments such as the Blake Charron Foundation memorial reef and the Tug Lesley Lee.

Florida and FWC have been investing in artificial reefs

Florida has one of the most ambitious reefing programs among the 15 Gulf and Atlantic coastal states that create artificial reefs, which attract fish, divers and anglers, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The FWC Artificial Reef Program provides financial and technical assistance to local governments, nonprofits and state universities to construct, monitor and assess projects. The agency allocates about $600,000 a year for projects throughout the state, and has distributed more than $26.5 million for reefs and related activities.

In addition, St. Lucie County has also placed smaller reef modules in the closer, nearshore waters off Fort Pierce in the past year and plans to monitor them to see how they attract prized inshore gamefish such as snook, tarpon and redfish, Oppenborn said.

Since the 1940s, more than 4,442 reefs have been placed in state and federal waters off Florida's coast.

Artificial reef construction can be completed only by state or local city and county governments in authorized, permitted areas.

Any placement of artificial reef materials outside a valid Army Corps-permitted area may constitute illegal ocean dumping, an activity that carries significant federal penalties. Deployed material is required to be heavy, stable, durable and non-polluting, according to the FWC.

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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: This old Florida bridge is being sunk in the ocean. Here's why

Reporting by Timothy O'Hara and Hana Khalyleh, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 10:00 AM.